US leave base in Philippines

(First Edition)

SUBIC BAY NAVAL BASE, PHILIPPINES (AP) - The United States Navy yesterday gave up most of what had been its largest base in Asia, and US officials said the last American forces would leave this former colony by the end of November.

In driving rain, the Navy formally turned over the Subic naval station to the Philippines. The 1,700 remaining US troops withdrew to Cubi Point naval air station on the western edge of the 62,000-acre Subic Bay complex. The US ambassador, Richard Solomon, said Cubi Point would revert to the Philippines on 24 November, when the last Americans would leave.

Last year, the Philippines Senate refused a new 10-year lease for Subic, and the government gave the Americans until the end of this year to leave.